Snapshot from the past ... 1977

William Rudd, of Duke Street, and John Bontoft, of Liqourpond Street, were captured soon after the outbreak of the First World War.

Mr Rudd, who was interred at the civilian detention camp of Ruhleben, said: “The men’s spirits are good, but they ought to be got home as quickly as possible. If it was not for the parcels the camp would be in a very bad state. If they were stopped, three-quarters of the men would go mad.”

He spoke of a ‘swill’ supplied to men consisting of ‘turnips, swedes, and sometimes a few carrots’.

Mr Bontoft was first held at Sennelager Camp – a military prison of about 25,000 people.

He said: “On our arrival we were treated as minelayers, for when they captured us they thought we were minelaying. They cut half of our hair off, half of our moustaches off, and put us into convict clothes. They were under that impression for six months, and when they found out to their own satisfaction that we were fishermen they gave us back our own clothes.”

Mr Bontoft would go on to be transferred to Ruhleben, where he said conditions were ‘much better’.

- A letter delivered to Boston United this week in 1977 had shattered the 40-year dream of club chairman and benefactor Ernest Malkinson.

It said that Boston United’s standards were not up to Football League requirements and ended all hopes of a successful application for League status – ‘at least for many years, probably for all time’, The Standard reported.

The letter, from Northern Premier League secretary Gordon Graham, related the Football League’s verdict after an inspection of ground facilities and finances.

- A seven-foot long hole appeared in Tollfield Road, Boston, 40 years ago this week, shortly after a bus collecting schoolchildren passed by.

Investigations by council workmen showed a lateral sewer had collapsed under the road.

- Also in March 1977, Swineshead Jubilee Committee had discovered a novel way of raising money for The Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations later in the year.

Their aim was to complete a mile of 2p pieces running from Stump Cross into the village centre.

This week in 1977, they had their first ‘laying out’ ceremony which showed they had already covered 80 yards - equating to £61.